How many UK Butterfly Species eat tree leaves?

[PhilBJohnson]

Butterfly species & Butterfly Larval food trees
I thought, Hairstreaks, Brimstone & Purple Emperor, all of which larvae, were thought to be in our native food chain for woodland species of birds.
"All sorts of damage"?
Where butterfly larvae "over-grazing" caused sapling damage, there might have been a very good reason (or argument), to plant more larval food plants, also in anticipation of local population increase of butterflies.

April 15th 2022, Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire

Did You Know:
Alder Buckthorn (Ericaceous loving) was listed as larval food plant for Green Hairstreak & Brimstone!
Referenced: UK Butterflies October 2nd 2022

[bugboy]

Seems to be a somewhat ill-informed sign

[Padfield]

Quite a bizarre sign! No British butterfly poses any threat to any native British tree. And no species at all poses more of a threat to British nature than Homo sapiens ...

Guy

[David M]

I'm surprised and disappointed that an organisation such as the Forestry Commission can erect a notice which contains the words "Their (butterflies') caterpillars can cause all sorts of damage to trees..."

It might be better if they concentrated on planting some more to replace the millions we have chopped down.

The "Friend or Foe?" tag is alarming too, because it's clear which side the message is on.

I feel for the poor Peacock whose image is being used for this misinformation....since when were nettles classed as trees?

[millerd]

Appalling. There has been plenty of criticism of the behaviour of the Forestry Commission on UKB over the years, and if there was any doubt this rather clinches it - the FC is the declared Enemy of butterflies! They'll be blaming the demise of elm trees on White-letter Hairstreaks next...

Dave

[bugboy]

Looks like they've employed a Daily Mail reject for their PR Dept!

[Padfield]

Looks like they've employed a Daily Mail reject for their PR Dept!

Or possibly a non-native speaker. In many languages, the equivalent of 'butterflies' means leps in general. The FC does occasionally declare war on some moth species (quite unjustly, in my opinion).

Guy

[David M]

...The FC does occasionally declare war on some moth species (quite unjustly, in my opinion).

Yes, they must consider leaf miners to be devils incarnate!

[bugboy]

Looks like they've employed a Daily Mail reject for their PR Dept!

Or possibly a non-native speaker. In many languages, the equivalent of 'butterflies' means leps in general. The FC does occasionally declare war on some moth species (quite unjustly, in my opinion).

Guy

Even so you'd still expect someone with a modicum of knowledge on the subject to look it over and edit it before it goes to print. A quick look at their website shows no butterflies officially listed as pests, unsurprisingly, which makes this sign even more bewildering!

[RolandRamsdale]

There are a number of species of moths which can cause considerable damage to trees, but relatively few compared to the total number of British moth species.